The phrase "wast frugal with" might seem confusing when it comes to its spelling. However, by breaking it down with phonetic transcription, it becomes clearer. "Wast" is pronounced as /wɑst/ and is an archaic form of "was." "Frugal" is pronounced as /ˈfruːɡəl/ and means to be economical or sparing in the use of resources. Therefore, the phrase "wast frugal with" means you were economical with your resources in the past tense. Always remember that the English language can have peculiar spellings, but breaking them down phonetically can help you understand them better.